Employee Election Spotlight: Kelli Shoenly
Any Hill student that has visited the Wellness Center has been greeted by Front Office Manager Kelli Shoenly. Shoenly has worked at Hill’s Wellness Center for 18 years. Before that, as a teenager, she had worked many jobs at Hill such as cleaning the guest house, catering different parties, being a part of the maintenance crew, and babysitting for many faculty children. When asked what she does as Front Office Manager, she sat back, smiled, and answered, “A little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a whole lot of loving my kids.”
Despite her constant positive demeanor, Shoenly is worried about how the election is dividing the country and how this will affect the future of COVID-19.
“It disturbs me to witness unrest and tension in the country and I expect to see a lot of it between now and January,” Shoenly said.
On the other hand, Shoenly feels happy to live in a state like Pennsylvania where she believes her vote matters. In fact, just that morning on November 3, she waited in line for an hour to cast her vote.
“On a positive note, I’m happy to be in a state where I feel my vote counts,” Shoenly said. “I used to live in Hawaii and by the time we voted, the election was already decided because of the time difference.”
As a healthcare worker, another concern of hers regarding the election is how the COVID-19 pandemic will be handled.
“I just hope that people will not lose the sense of urgency and reality concerning COVID-19 and finding a cure,” Shoenly said. She also worries about the growing battle between scientific fact and fake news conspiracies.
Shoenly, one of many Hill employees who will feel this election in more ways than one, remains ever hopeful for the future of this country. For now, she does her duty as a citizen one vote at a time.
